Supervisors hold second budget session

Shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday, the chairman of the Prince William supervisors brought forth a plan to trim nearly $21 million from the proposed fiscal 2009 budget, and as a consequence, fellow board members opted to hold a second session -- previously unplanned -- after dinner break to hash out details.

They also agreed to go into closed session at the start of this 7:30 p.m. meeting in order to receive legal advice on issues related to the installation of cameras in police vehicles, as put forth in the county executive's proposed budget.

In a brief discussion after the board broke for dinner, and in address of questions from the Potomac News about the legality of this planned closed session, the county attorney said the behind-doors meeting did meet the criteria of Freedom of Information Act laws so long as he was able to prevent supervisors from debating policy -- and more specifically, a policy that's not even been passed.

Whether or not to fund the camera installation portion of the immigration resolution was an item of debate among supervisors during the markup hearing Tuesday; the proposal costs an estimated $3.1 million. The cameras are aimed at preventing the likes of racial profiling suits that could stem from implementation of the county's immigration policy. But installation could also bring an abundance of lawsuits from defense attorneys "chomping at the bit" to find the next, great civil rights case, said Supervisor Martin Nohe, R-Coles, who sought the closed session discussion.

Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at large, meanwhile, questioned the need to debate these legal issues behind closed doors, but supervisors ultimately voted 8-0 in favor.

As for the budget itself, Stewart's last-minute cost-cutting plan called for enough savings that the average resident would see a tax bill increase of $1.

Under the 92-cent plan, the average tax bill of $3,258 would rise to $3,259, according to a fact sheet distributed before the board went to dinner. With a 93-cent rate, the average tax bill would increase by $22; the highest amount figured was for the advertised $1 rate, with an accompanying tax bill increase of $269.

Highlights of Stewart's plan: Drop the in-car camera program for police vehicles, for a savings of more than $3.1 million. Limit the police call from 40 new staffers to 20 for the Criminal Alien Unit, for a savings of $2.2 million. Eliminate the five positions needed for the 24-hour supervision program for Fire and Rescue, part of the Line-of-Duty death initiative, at a cost savings of $1.7 million.

"I want to go forward with most of the Line-of-Duty death report," Stewart said, "but some … should wait until we have better [finances.]"

Other proposed cuts called for supervisors to each find $10,000 in savings in office expenses, for a total of $80,000, as well as forego a pay increase that would have totaled about $5,000. The plan, too, suggested eliminating the Office on Youth, a $294,178 annual expense, but shifting some of the programs to other offices, and boosting funding in those areas by $50,000. For example, the Office on Youth itself might be abolished, but in its place, the Boys and Girls Club would receive an extra $50,000, according to Stewart's plan.

A major aspect of the $21 million budget reduction requires the county executive to identify $5 million in savings through reduction in forces -- layoffs or position eliminations.

That aspect of Stewart's plan, especially, was met with some degree of skepticism and concern by others at the table.

"You take $5 million out of the budget," said County Executive Craig Gerhart, in answer to questions about how he might accomplish this goal. "There's two ways to look at it … where do you cut back on services?"

Or, the second and less appealing option, he continued: "You focus on vacancies."

Leaving vacant positions unfilled would have unintended consequences for the police department especially, Gerhart said, and would unduly compromise safety and the ability of officers to perform their core missions.

Supervisors are due to adopt the fiscal 2009 budget on April 29.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.